OCT 13, 2023 | HAIR LOSS

Your Go-To Guide For Everything Hair Loss

Do you want to know a frightening coincidence? It is estimated that up to 30% of men face hair thinning in their thirties, and 20% deal with it as early as their twenties. If hair loss among men, including young men, is common why does it feel so difficult to talk about with others? Talking about things like thinning hair can be taboo, even with friends, but there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to dealing with hair loss.

What is Hair Loss?

You might be wondering to yourself “why am I losing so much hair? There are many things that can cause hair loss but let’s begin by briefly going over the answer to the question: what is hair loss? To understand hair loss, we must first briefly go over the cycle of hair growth. There are four phases in the hair growth cycle, starting with the growing phase through to the shedding phase when the hair falls out, they can be seen below.

Image via healthline detailing the four stages of the hair growth cycle

Now when it comes to hair loss, it can occur in the exogen phase with excessive hair shedding or hair loss, or the anagen phase with reduced hair growth, additionally conditions such as telogen effluvium occur in the telogen stage. Issues with hair loss can involve problems with the transitions between the stages, for example, 5-10% of hair should be in the telogen phase at any given time but with some conditions up to 30% of hair is in the phase, causing it to move to the exogen phase and fall out in large batches. Sometimes there is damage to the hair follicle so that new hair cannot grow back after old hair has fallen out, this is more severe and often requires more attention to fix.

Early Hair Thinning: Catch It Sooner Than Later

You know a man in your life who is experiencing some form of hair loss, you might even be experiencing it yourself, but the earlier you can spot it the more likely it is that hair density, fullness and growth can be restored.

Hair thinning can happen to anyone and occurs in multiple stages and many different forms, below are some early indicators of hair loss to aid in early detection.

Changes in hairline (receding hairline)

Change in the crown area (bald patches/spots)

Visible loss of fullness, volume, or density in the hair

Excessive hair shedding after showering or combing

Significant hair falls throughout the day (losing 200-300 hairs a day)

Hair breaks or is damaged more easily

Is It Appropriate to Let Someone Know That Their Hair Is Thinning?

This is a tough decision, and the final choice is yours, chances are that if you have noticed someone is suffering from hair thinning that they already have too. However, when treating hair loss, much like most ailments, the earlier it is caught and sooner it can be treated, the better the results will be. That is not to say you should tell strangers on the street or casual co-workers about their noticeable hair loss, when bringing up this topic, it is best to discuss it with close friends and be clear with what you are saying and how you say it. You do not want to come across as rude or offensive, so it is best to be sensitive and informative if telling a close friend or family member that you think they may be experiencing early hair thinning. In the end, your close friend or family member who is experiencing hair loss may thank you for giving them some insight.

If you are expiring early hair thinning yourself and do not want anyone else to notice, there are some flattering hairstyles specifically for men with early-stage thinning hair and they include the following.

The Buzzcut

The Crew Cut

The Skin Fade

The Quiff Fade

The Pompadour Fade

To learn more about different flattering hairstyles for early thinning hair Click HERE.

There are a variety of different hairstyles that are flattering on thinning hair types

Discussing Early Hair Loss

Talking about hair loss can be a touchy subject, the truth is most men are insecure about the concept of losing their hair, so you must tread carefully! You need to ensure that you first create a safe and positive atmosphere, make sure the person you are talking to understands that you are coming from a place of concern and not one of judgment. Here are a few tips!

Do not force the topic. Most people do not want their weak spots to be discussed publicly. Use your judgment – only talk about the hair loss issue when you think the person is ready to discuss it.

Let them lead the conversation! You do not want to be intrusive; it is less likely for them to be offended or uncomfortable when they know they are the ones in control.

Be understanding. Many men deal with hair loss at an early age, and by the time we hit sixty more people have faced hair loss than not. When discussing the subject, normalize it – chances are you will experience hair thinning in your life, if you have not already, and they will feel as though you understand them, and understand you are coming from a place of compassion

Be well informed and offer support. Being ignorant will quickly shut the conversation down, if a loved one is experiencing hair loss it is more than likely that they may already be aware of it. If your friend recognizes that you understand and are well versed in hair loss, they will take you more seriously.

It is best to go to your friend with solutions, rather than just pointing out a problem, below are some helpful tips and tricks to reduce hair loss. If you want to learn more, we have a blog post detailing six quick and easy solutions to hair loss and hair thinning, click HERE to read more.

Avoid the use of any unnecessary hot styling tools

Try to avoid washing the hair every day

Do not use a lot of styling or dry shampoo products

Use moisturizing and restorative hair masks as necessary

Depending on the severity of the hair loss there are available treatments such as PRP (platelet-rich plasma)

Incorporating proper nutrients into your diet, such as taking vitamins like biotin

It is important to note that hair loss can be caused by any number of factors, including genetics, and things like hair masks and vitamins will not fix it. In cases like these treatments such as PRP and Mesotherapy can be the best option to see results including the regrowth of hair. If you would like to learn more about PRP and Mesotherapy hair solutions available at CADMEN Clinic, Click HERE.